Close to 300 feasted on Christmas Day meal

The free Christmas Day dinner at St. Anthony’s Hall in Woodstock will be back for a 10th year, Preston Murphy, a co-ordinator of the event has confirmed.

The largest crowd yet, about 300 people, attended the meal or received take-outs during the event, which raised $3,000 for six West Prince schools’ breakfast programs.

The meal, open to all, attracts many individuals and couples who might otherwise dine alone.

It is offered free of charge, but a donations jar was in the hall for anyone insisting on making a contribution. Those proceeds and any money left over from donations received in support of purchasing items for the meal are pooled together and redirected to local causes. This year, it was the breakfast programs.

“We’re in need of toasters and griddles,” said Rebecca Ellsworth, a volunteer with the St. Louis Elementary breakfast program, indicating they will apply the money towards those resources, and for groceries.

“We’ll be able to buy lots of groceries,” said Gwen Clements, co-ordinator for the Bloomfield Elementary school program, where breakfasts are held five mornings a week.